Destination weddings are one of the most fun and exciting things you can do for yourself to make your special day as memorable and exciting as possible. There are few things that can compete with the idea of traveling to a far off destination for a very romantic ceremony. However, there are many things to consider when you plan a destination wedding. Moreover, many of these things can be easy to overlook. You aren’t going to have the luxury of sending someone to your house quick if you forgot something important. So, you need to have every detail in place well in advance. As long as you keep that in mind and make sure you get all the details right, you shouldn’t have any problems.
Below you will find some tips to help you plan a destination wedding. It will also help to avoid any mishaps that can take away from your magical moment.
The Basics of Planning a Destination Wedding
The most important thing to do when planning a destination wedding is to get started early. It’s easy to think you have more than enough time to get everything done. However, that date will start to close in rapidly! By getting everything done well in advance, you can relieve a lot of stress and allow yourself to enjoy your trip much better.
Secondly, you’ll need to determine a budget and stick to it. Destination weddings can get quite expensive with all the materials, travel fess, lodging, and venue rentals. So, knowing what you have to spend and staying within that budget is really important so you don’t run out of money.
Lastly, you need to make sure you communicate all the details to your prospective wedding guests as far in advance as possible. Sure, you can get away with sending out save-the-date cards only a few months ahead of time with a local wedding. However, added fees and time dedication of traveling for your wedding will require longer notice for many of your guests. As soon as you decide on a location and date, send out your save-the-date cards; even if you haven’t finalized the rest of the details just yet.
Taking Care of Your Guests
Since your guests are traveling so far from home to support you on your wedding day, it is important that they feel welcomed and relaxed when they arrive at the destination. You will probably put much more time and research into the destination than they will, so it is important that you act as a good host. Though it is your wedding and you don’t want to do too much for everyone, there are some simple things that can go a long way.
One idea is to prepare gift baskets for your guests with some essentials included. This will not only make them feel invited, but it can have items they may have forgotten to pack themselves. Also, you should have a packet prepared with activity options or sight-seeing locations listed for them. They’re a long way from home, so giving them something to do is a really nice gesture. Lastly, you should make sure that someone is delegated to take care of any problems or questions that may arise. You aren’t going to want to wait on people hand-and-foot. That’s why putting a “helper” in charge of this stuff can be a real lifesaver for you and your guests.
Choosing Where to Plan a Destination Wedding
Now, the fun part: choosing your wedding destination. It is as personal as your taste in wedding dress, so when it comes time to choose a destination you should just go wild. Talk with your partner and figure out a place that you both would love. Also, since you’re going to be there already, you might want to think of honeymoon spots for your destination wedding. Many couples use their wedding location as the spot for their honeymoon. As such, choosing a tropical location such as Hawaii or a romantic location such as Italy are very common choices. No matter what your personal preferences are, just remember that this is your special day and you need to choose a location that is ideal for you and your partner.
